Heather Naude bridges the communication gap between you and your accountant. Her story started eight years ago when she decided to take the wise words of Sir. Richard Branson “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” So Heather took a leap of faith into business and started a simple payroll company with only a hair-dressing qualification and a good business partner behind her. Only later, when the company was well established, did Heather realise that she was performing advanced tax services at bookkeeping prices.

Heather continued to build a trusted relationship with her clients, noticing that the number one reason clients left their accountants was most often because of their own credit or revenue issues, not necessarily the accountant’s price or the service. Whoever was at fault, the blame was often directed solely at the accountant and their seeming inability to communicate simply and effectively. Ironically enough, as she was not a qualified accountant, her own strengths in communicating with her own clients lay in her ability to use simple accounting terms. Clients therefore found it easier to understand the accounting process and felt more confident when communicating with her compared to their previous accountant.

Over the years, Heather identified two types of accountants. The first work hard to give a quality service, but offer poor communication and a lack of transparency. Some accountants, however, give poor work performance, but talk in complicated terms which has the effect of keeping the customer satisfied, but through a lack of understanding. Such customers only have two choices if they are in start-up business: an expensive accountant or self-managing accounts until it proves impossible. In Heather’s experience both outcomes are disastrous, resulting in business owners accusing accountants of bad practice or ending up with large backdated and penalty payments due.

Heather analysed why it was that business owners often unknowingly ignore the responsibility of managing their money, by outsourcing it or failing to learn enough about its management. As a result she created Bridgafide, which aims to help clients confidently bridge the gap between themselves and their accountant. Establishing right beliefs and responsibilities around finances in business not only saves business owners from future anguish, but also shows them how to understand the flow of money and how to use it to make strong informed decisions in business and with their accountant. Ultimately Heather’s mission is to help new business owners get their accounting right from the start.